| You have probably been to your local pet shop or | | | | tail, and don't forget to find out how big the fish |
| aquarist dealer and seen a large variety of tropical | | | | will grow to, don't just look at the size of them in |
| fish to choose from. How do you go about | | | | the shop as they will almost certainly grow. |
| choosing the right combination of fish for you? | | | | How do you go about choosing the right fish for |
| You can't just choose any fish you like and | | | | you? Firstly look around and see if there are any |
| expect them to all get along well together, it | | | | fish which you definitely want, and start your plan |
| doesn't work like that - you need a plan. | | | | there. You need to know what size the fish you |
| Firstly, do you want a community aquarium or a | | | | want will grow to, and how many you should |
| species tank? A community aquarium will hold a | | | | keep together. Some fish are fine singly or in |
| variety of different fish that will all live in harmony | | | | pairs, others only really thrive when they have |
| with each other. A species tank, as the name | | | | friends to shoal with. |
| suggests, will only hold one variety of fish. | | | | When you have chosen the fish you want to |
| Most people start with a community aquarium, | | | | base your aquarium on, look to see how many |
| and it is a very good place to start. | | | | you need to get, and how many inches they will |
| Before you work out exactly which fish you | | | | use up. Next, will they live in harmony with all |
| want, you need to work out have many inches | | | | other fishes, or are there some they don't get |
| (or centimetres) of fish you can accommodate in | | | | along with? Also, take note of where they live in |
| your new aquarium. A long, shallow tank will hold | | | | the aquarium. Some fish are bottom dwellers, |
| more fish than a short deep tank, because it is | | | | some live mainly at the top, and others in the |
| the amount of oxygen in the water that is more | | | | middle of the aquarium. |
| important than the actual quantity of water. | | | | The best way to have a balanced aquarium is to |
| As a guide you can expect to be able to fit one | | | | have some fish that live in each level of the |
| inch of fish for each gallon of water, so a good | | | | aquarium, as well as some fish that will keep the |
| place to start is to calculate the number of inches | | | | bottom clean, like corydoras. I also always like to |
| of fishes you can accommodate. This is measured | | | | have fish that will keep the sides clean, like a |
| from the mouth of the fish to the start of the | | | | pleco (suckermouth catfish). |